Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia / AF517 - Transparency and openness to enter into a dialogue with the city
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Transparency and openness to enter into a dialogue with the city

Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia / AF517

Housing  /  Completed
Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia / AF517

8ème Art General description Our project develops according to a strategy that seeks an equilibrium. We were looking for just the right density; one that both the site and its context allowed. We have tried to introduce a certain quality of life into this new urban space: shared spaces, green; a permeable ground floor; the articulation of fullness and emptiness; diversity united in one single identity. A responsible response to the site. Our experimentations led us to favour a partial reduction of the footprint in order to offer a better way of using the inherent urbanity of the project. The founding basis here is the new Renault concession. The starting point for the project, and real “base” for this one, the concession offers a play of transparencies and porosities through to the heart of the group of buildings.Nature and the constructed city blend together.A hanging garden is offered to the residents. Transparency and openness: these two ideas enter into a dialogue with the city and act as the foundation of our project. Technical description The site for the Renault project is situated in one of the strategic and symbolic locations of Marseille. In effect, it can be found at the crossroads of the Huveaune river and the historic Prado – Michelet axis, which fi rst came into service in 1890. This north-south urban axis can be considered as the real backbone of the southern neighbourhoods of Marseille: it gives brightness and hierarchy to the urban fabric of the area, made up mainly of old village centres and a scattering of buildings: country-house estates, private housing estates, council estates… It links the Vieux-Port, the heart of Marseille, to the Mazargues roundabout, entrance to the Calanques. Marked by the presence of several emblematic buildings close to the site, such as the Unité d’Habitation (Housing Unit) by Le Corbusier (built in 1952 and classed as an historic monument), the Villa Magalone (built in 1710 and classed as an historic monument), or further still the Stade Vélodrome (currently being extended), the Boulevard Michelet is one of Marseille’s most symbolic roads, just as much as La Canebière or the Corniche J.F. Kennedy. The site relies upon the urban road axis which structures the area and brings with it several advantages (accessibility, visibility, representivity), it equally benefits from the nearby presence of the Huveaune. The river is a major plus for the site and for the installation of the housing units upon it: it strengthens the organic nature of the land, its relationship with water: it truly anchors it into the landscape. The project site can thus be seen to have a dual character, materialised by the contrast of textures, of shapes and colours. Our project develops according to a strategy that seeks an equilibrium. We were looking for just the right density; one that both the site and its context allowed. We have tried to introduce a certain quality of life into this new urban space: shared spaces, green; a permeable ground floor; the articulation of fullness and emptiness; diversity united in one single identity. A responsible response to the site. Our experimentations led us to favour a partial reduction of the footprint in order to offer a better way of using the inherent urbanity of the project. The founding basis here is the new Renault concession. The starting point for the project, and real “base” for this one, the concession offers a play of transparencies and porosities through to the heart of the group of buildings. Nature and the constructed city blend together. A hanging garden is offered to the residents. Transparency and openness: these two ideas enter into a dialogue with the city and act as the foundation of our project. Large terraces and loggias develop to the south and west. The residences are designed to progress from relatively low heights west of the land to maximum heights on Michelet Boulevard. The residences of the " 8ème ART " project respond to different themes, from the urban façade on the boulevard to the intimate dimension in the open and transversal courtyards inside. The project captures light and creates devices for perception of the urban landscape. They are also designed with particular attention to sun exposure and wind, natural components and inseparable techniques of the Marseilles climate. The residences to the south have therefore required sun protection, achievable only through loggias or horizontal protections above the terraces, while the accommodation to the east and towards the "linear park" are equipped with large terraces.

Credits

 Marsiglia
 Francia
 Altarea Cogedim
 09/2021
 58000 mq
 Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with Carta Associés
 Simonetta Cenci (coordination), Alfonso Femia, Stefano Delogu (project leader), Valentin Mazet (project leader), Simone Giglio, Lorenza Barabino, Carlotta Turrato, Fernando Cannata, Carla Pugliese, Luca Aly - For carta Associés: Arnaud Sibille, Ludovic Bisi (project leaders)
 VINCI Construction
 Paul Pierre Petel (Paysagiste), ARTELIA (structural engineering), Oasiis (services and environmental engineering), Ilaria di meo (Artist)
 Casalgrande Padana (ceramiche)
 Stefano Anzini, Luc Boegly

Curriculum

Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia is an international architecture firm based in Genoa, Milan and Paris.
The experience gained in more than 25 years of design activity, developed at all scales of intervention, is reflected in the depth of approach to the most sensitive issues of the city and the territory.
Founder of the atelier(s) is Alfonso Femia: in 1995, he created and co-founded 5+1, transformed in 2005 into 5+1AA which subsequently, in 2017, changed its name to Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia.
The physical belonging (the three ateliers) to three different geographies Genoa, Milan and Paris characterizes an atypical professional aspect that is inspired by the contamination with art, photography, literature, music.
His most recent projects include the new Vimar headquarters in Marostica, the Dallara Academy in Parma, the new headquarters of the BNL-BNP Paribas Group in Rome, Les Docks de Marseille, The Corner in Milan and a residential social housing complex in Milan.

https://www.atelierfemia.com/e...


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